Health Department Wants New Yorkers to “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants”

Are you getting your daily dose of green? If you’re in New York City, the Health Department is urging you to embrace the power of plants with their new initiative, aptly named “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants.”

Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY/Youtube

This campaign is designed to inspire New Yorkers to integrate more whole plant foods into their meals – think luscious fruits, vibrant veggies, hearty whole grains, and protein-packed beans. These foods are naturally high in fiber and vitamins and typically free from the added sodium or sugars that often lurk in processed foods.

And the benefits don’t just stop at your personal health. A diet rich in plant foods can also significantly reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. As Mayor Eric Adams shares from personal experience, embracing a plant-based lifestyle was instrumental in reversing his own diabetes.

The initiative is more than just talk. It’s about promoting access to healthier choices, especially in food deserts. By providing education on food assistance programs and healthier alternatives, the campaign seeks to cultivate a greener, healthier New York City, one plant-based meal at a time.

And these actions aren’t just great for New Yorkers – they’re also beneficial for our planet. Echoing previous efforts by Mayor Adams to combat Climate change, the campaign dovetails with initiatives like Plant-powered Fridays in public schools and a commitment to reduce carbon emissions from food purchases by 33 percent. Because, in the words of Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, incorporating more plants into our diets is a win for both our health and our environmental goals.

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Related Content:

• Plant Based Diet Reduces Risk of Cognitive Decline, Study Finds
• Plant Based Diet Improves Health and Longevity, Research Finds
• City of Edinburgh Becomes First Capital in Europe to Endorse Plant Based Treaty
• Almost a Quarter of People Want More Plant Based Options in the Workplace
• Study Finds More Brits Seeking Plant Based Options

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!